Hope this is in the right forum - haven't posted something in quite some time.
I'm sure (in fact I know) that this topic has been discussed to death before on some of these forums but felt that any direct contribution from some of you would be far more useful to me than simply reading (or perhaps trawling is better) through the search database to come up with a situation similar to mine.

I would very much like to learn to fly for a major Airline someday in the distant future, though the longer I put off thinking about how I'm going to achieve my career goal, the further away that dream seems to sail.

I'm pretty sure I would be able to get a first class medical and know this is a crucial first step before undertaking anything else. I say pretty sure because I passed the Royal Air Force Medical (stage 1) required for flight crew training during my brief stint in the Reserves. My eyesight checked out fine, as did hearing and all else and my records from the Doc appeared ok aswell. I plan to get (pay) for my medical sometime next year.

I often hear its better to train in the USA than over here (UK) primarily for reasons associated with cost and weather and so am mainly enquiring about training within the US only. I have a small amount of flying experience in Gliders and powered aircraft (Grob 'Tutor', about 23 hours), but am unsure as to whether this will help in the long run. I'm currently in my last year of my degree (History) at University and will (presumably) graduate next June. After hearing from pilots all round that its useful having a degree in something non-aviation related due to furloughing in one's career, I decided to do a History degree.

I was planning to work for a few years after graduation to save up to pay for all my ratings in one go (after having had the experience with the RAF of having huge gaps, often more than a month during the earlier stages of training, I know how important it is that I do all my ratings in one go, one after the other to reduce the difficulty and stress).

After having read some posts on here about the prices involved with University flight-training programs in the US, I'm inclined to go for some other alternative programs, though I know very little of such programs other than the University flight training ones which you pay massively for alongside a degree, of which I will soon already have. Out of interest, does anyone know what sort of grades or qualifications some of these Aeronautical Universities are looking for? Are there any pre-requisites for gaining entry to their course? Is perhaps a different sort of program or course better suited to my situation.

As you can tell I really don't know the best approach for my situation - perhaps someone would be kind enough to point me in the right direction. I have done some research (mainly online) and come away with much information that often doesn't apply directly to my circumstances. Any replies to this post are much appreciated - thanks for your time!

Try the air force as it is cheaper that going the commercial way. Also have a look at 'www.jetcareers.com' that may help you.
Take a look back in the forum, I'm sure that there was one of these thread about a week ago or less. It is in this forum, the Civil Aviation one.

www.pprune.org may also help you. Have you thought about airline sponsorship in the UK? You'd need to be a very good candidate because the places are highly competitive, but there is, or at least was, the CTCMcAlpine scheme training pilots for U2 and Thomas Cook that would sponsor you, although with strings attached like you must stay in the airline 15 years or you have to take on some of the cost. A levels like Maths and Physics are important.

Did you get the Grob 'Tutor' hours from an ATC? I'm in my school ATC at the moment and we fly in those, but I'm also starting a PPL which I hope to get done before university, to help with sponsorship application.

Once you have tasted flight, you will walk the earth with your eyes turned forever skyward

there are a lot of swizz scemes out there, i wont name them, but some will know who im on about! they will take hundreds of pounds off u to go to a 'selection process', and some still require you to pay 30k GBP plus! my advice, is try to get a sponsorhip, but aim to be self sponsored-its a long, slow way, but if you are serious about being a pilot, then its a necessary evil-im hoping to start my training next may/june.

pprune.orguk, is very unfriendly, but it does contain lots of up-to-date information. good luck

Thanks for the replies.
I've already been looking at jetcareers.com and while the site is helpful, it doesn't answer my queries precisely enough.
ZKSUJ - The Air Force is an option still I suppose, though I've had my taste of the starts of military life and found it wasn't entirely for me. I spent a brief 15 months in my University's Air Squadron but quit for a number of differing reasons - for one I found transport to and from the base a problem as I dont drive and although some expenses were paid for it was still inconvenient at best. I found I couldnt get away and commit enough to the flying with a degree on the side (going down by train every weekend wasnt practical for me). I also found taking long gaps before getting straight back into flying wasn't the best idea in the World - its very difficult to be expected to fly some of the earlier stages after breaks as long as 4 months!
I have decided that getting a good degree is my most important priority at the moment, but still wish to persue some sort of career in the long run. The budget cuts to the RAF recently also haven't halped things and many of the people I knew in the year above me who have just completed the course and scored just fine on their FHT were unable to br taken in by the Air Force anyway.
I will check out this pprune website aswell - thanks for the advice!
LHR27C - my 20 odd hours or so were done in the UAS before I quit them and decided my degree should come first! I was in the CCF (great fun) and although they had stopped doing pilot scholarships briefly when I was in the cadets, I was still lucky enough to do a gliding scholarship instead (only 8 hours and one solo flight though)!

If u want to train in the us there are schools which u can get student visas i believe cabair has a school in orlando, oxford flight training has one in phoenix. Delta connection academy in sanford florida.

CTC is a good route also as u get pre selected for a job probably with easyjet or thomas cook. Also u get to do it in New Zealand which would be nice

There is BAe in jerez which is expensive as well 90,000 euros.

Beware some training programs are inclusive of other costs like books and accomodation. Others especially in America expect u to pay extra.
Also some air training organisations use crappy old aircraft and others have new ones.

As to airlines they dont really mind where u go unless its BA who will only take from Oxford and BAe

I have also been looking to train in the USA. I found this school which have heard is great. There is forum and there is a post by a UK student that went there also and what he did when he went back home. That might help you.